Blogs Archives - The Good Doctor Is In

May92018 by DocNo Comments

Chlamydia – Symptoms | Complications

[caption id="attachment_254" align="alignleft" width="150"] logo created by RKL[/caption] CHLAMYDIA -SYMPTOMS | COMPLICATIONS Every year a small devilish bacteria, Chlamydia trachomatis, attacks nearly 3 million Americans. It especially targets young, sexually active women. Unfortunately the overwhelming majority of people harboring this organism experience no symptoms warning that something is amiss. Only months, years or even decades later chronic pelvic pain, discomfort during sexual intercourse or infertility appear as sequelae to a long forgotten liaison. Understanding Chlamydia its symptoms and complications focuses attention toward early diagnosis, treatment and avoidance of complications. CHLAMYDIA: A STI Generally considered a sexually transmitted infection or STI, nearly 140 million cases of Chlamydia will occur this year throughout the world compared to nearly 80 million cases of gonorrhea. While impressive, these figures pale in comparison to the…

Mar102018 by DocNo Comments

Diabetes – Is Not Necessarily Permanent

Blogs

DIABETES – IS NOT NECESSARILY PERMANENT The likelihood of becoming diabetic increases in parallel with our ever expanding waistlines. Once diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes or simply diabetes, the condition almost always persists forever. Currently the remission rate averages less than 0.2% basically signifying a lifetime of misdirected attention to diet along with a steadily growing number of oral medicines followed by various injections and typically culminating with insulin treatment after about ten years. BACKGROUND Until relatively recently, the incidence of diabetes hovered at very low levels where it still remains but only in underdeveloped nations. Along with changing dietary habits coupled with a decrease in physical activity, the prevalence of diabetes soared to well in excess of 1 in 11 adults. A recent phenomenon couples the burgeoning waistlines of…

Mar62018 by Doc1 Comment

Cancer Breakthrough: CAR – T Cell Therapy

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[caption id="attachment_586" align="alignleft" width="150"] Upward and onward with new CAR-T Cell Cancer therapy[/caption] CANCER BREAKTHROUGH: CAR – T CELL THERAPY Cancer ranks as the most feared disease stirring memories of suffering, pain and disability followed by a lengthy downward spiral to death. Traditional approaches include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. While still evolving into the modern era, these options unfortunately offer limited success. Newer targeted therapies with drugs including Gleevec, Herceptin and Opdivo provide major a advance but still leave considerable room for improvement. Enter the cancer breakthrough CAR-T Cell Therapy capable of directing the body’s immune system at malignant cells previously unable to be destroyed. Considered as “breakthrough therapy” by the Food and Drug Administration, the initial two agents received priority review followed by marketing approval within less than one…

Mar62018 by DocNo Comments

Ringing in the Ear – Tinnitus

Blogs

RINGING IN THE EAR – TINNITUS Ringing in the ears will affect everyone. Fortunately for the overwhelming majority of individuals the condition appears fleeting and not sufficiently bothersome to warrant medical attention. However for about 10-20% or more than 50 million Americans the situation causes mild annoyance or distress. In slightly less than 1% of the population tinnitus significantly and negatively impacts on an person’s capacity to enjoy life and for some may be so devastating that it leads to consideration of suicide. Tinnitus refers to noise a person perceives that does not originate from any external source. No one, not even the most highly trained specialist, possesses any tools capable of confirming the very existence of the complaint. Symptoms are described as ringing, buzzing, hissing, roaring, clicking, sizzling or…

Mar52018 by DocNo Comments

High Blood Pressure | Controversy

Blogs

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE | Controversy Caution: the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association jointly issued new guidelines on November 13, 2017 for treating high blood pressure that may be hazardous to your health. Startling media coverage of these new guidelines regarding diagnosis and treatment fails to acknowledge the significant disagreement that exists regarding the basic tenets of the condition. Even among the most highly respected professional societies, no uniform definition exists of what precisely constitutes high blood pressure (HBP). Of course in the absence of agreement on a diagnosis, it seems highly disingenuous to recommend lifelong therapy. Everyone agrees that excessive blood pressure wreaks havoc on the vascular system over a period of years to decades. Along with cigarette smoking, obesity and improper diet, HBP ranks among…

Mar52018 by DocNo Comments

Hallucinations and Delusions of Parkinson’s Disease

Blogs

HALLUCINATIONS AND DELUSIONS OF PARKINSON’S DISEASE As many as 1 million Americans experience symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease with many ultimately suffering the complications of hallucinations and delusions. Early manifestations of Parkinson's Disease generally include a resting tremor principally affecting the hands and remarkably occurring in the absence of other body activity. This shakiness tends to disappear during body movement. As this progressive disease worsens an overall slowness interferes with walking and leads to characteristic rigidity. Other complicating factors with varying frequency include excessive saliva, drooling, sleep disruption, depression and constipation. Recently advertisements in the guise of public service messages focus attention on the relatively neglected accompaniments of this condition: hallucinations and delusions. These tend to occur relatively late in the disease generally developing many years after the original diagnosis. These…

Mar42018 by DocNo Comments

Dry Eyes and Their Treatment

Blogs

DRY EYES AND THEIR TREATMENT Prominently aired commercials serve to increase awareness of the common but frequently overlooked disorder known as Dry Eyes and their treatment. Fortunately even when undiagnosed, this nuisance complaint almost never leads to loss of vision. Also known as Aqueous Tear Deficiency, Xerophthalmia, Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca or merely KCS its main feature involves inadequate tear coverage of the eye’s surface. Tears function to lubricate and nourish the front of the eye, provide oxygen and nutrients, focus light and remove both foreign particles and infectious organisms. Obviously interrupting tear’s normal activities may be met with problems. Symptoms Symptoms of the DES tend to occur with increasing frequency as we age with those over age 40 most at risk. The peak incidence occurs in senior citizens. Overall the prevalence…

Mar32018 by DocNo Comments

Bacterial Vaginosis | Common Vaginal Discharge

Blogs, Uncategorized

BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS | COMMON VAGINAL DISCHARGE During the reproductive years, at least 1 in of every 2 or 3 women will experience bacterial vaginosis, a vaginal discharge due to a shift in bacterial composition away from the normal flora. Unfortunately even a single attack testifies to a woman’s susceptibility and suggests the likelihood of multiple recurrences over the upcoming many years to decades. In many cases vaginal discharge heralds a recently acquired infection with yeast, Trichomonas, Chlamydia or other sexually transmitted condition. However by far the most common culprit involves a dramatic fall in number and concentration of bacteria known as Lactobacilli with simultaneous overgrowth of a variety of less friendly organisms that generally represent only a small fraction of the flora normally present. This condition known as Bacterial Vaginosis…

Mar22018 by DocNo Comments

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome | Current Thoughts

Blogs

POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME | Current Thoughts Polycystic Ovary Syndrome affects more than 5 million women most of whom fail to realize their potential danger. While this leading cause of infertility seems to identify it as principally as a gynecologic disorder, PCOS significantly increases the risk for heart disease, stroke, diabetes and more. Unfortunately the name suggests the major manifestation involves cysts within the ovary. Actually this feature probably represents a complication of the underlying disease process and need not be present for the diagnosis. In fact these so-called ovarian cysts do not even represent true cysts but rather immature follicles that fail to mature and release an egg. Normal ovaries often demonstrate these findings which by themselves do not indicate any medical disease. Subtle hormone abnormalities remain central to PCOS. …

Mar22018 by DocNo Comments

Fibroids | Concepts | Treatment | Medical | Surgical

Blogs

FIBROIDS | Concepts | Treatment | Medical | Surgical Although generally small, fibroids of the uterus create havoc for many women and lack a consensus regarding the most effective and least invasive therapy. Most women harbor generally innocent but sometimes troublesome tumors within the lining of their womb. Fortunately these nodules of smooth muscle combined with varying amounts of connective tissue remain benign, non-cancerous, throughout their course. Variously known as myomas, fibromas or leiomyomas, most commonly they are referred to simply as fibroids. Depending on the thoroughness of medical investigation, estimates suggest up to 8 out of 10 women will develop fibroids. Clinical examination in a doctor’s office places the incidence at 1 in 3 females. Ultrasound studies raise the frequency to 50% while more complete microscopic evaluation of the…